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Unveiling the Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence at Tel Aviv University AI Day 2024

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From Cybersecurity to Democracy: Challenges and Innovations in AI Research and Applications.

On February 5, Tel Aviv University brought together key figures in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the highly anticipated AI Day 2024. This gathering served as a forum for researchers, industry professionals, and experts to delve into crucial issues in AI research and applications, providing insights into the foundational theories driving this rapidly evolving field. The event specifically highlighted AI’s significance in times of war, featuring discussions on computer vision, NLP, regulation, and the complexities of tackling fake news.   Yorai Fainmesser (Co-Founder, General Partner at Disruptive AI VC), Professor Meir Feder (Tel Aviv University), Major General Isaac Ben Israel (Director of TAU Blavatnik ICRC), Professor Ariel Porat (President of Tel Aviv University), Gili Drob-Heistein (Executive Director of the Blavatnik ICRC). Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC Opening the AI Day 2024, Professor Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University, emphasized that the AI Day embodies the resilient spirit of Tel Aviv University and the country – as Israel does not have the privilege to suspend all activities for a year, nor can the university stop training students and producing research. While a full AI week will take place later in the year, alongside the Cyber Week scheduled for June, a one-day event is a testament to the strength of Israel as a nation in these trying times. Professor Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Prof Porat underscored TAU’s commitment to developing AI and data science expertise through its recently established multidisciplinary center that offers a cluster of AI and data science courses to TAU students from all faculties.  
“Ideally all students should have the opportunity to study AI as it is an engine for the development of all research fields. And in each and every field there are different challenges to be overcome”—Professor Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University
  In 2023, Tel Aviv University enrolled its first cohort of graduate students in a newly launched master’s program in AI, further cementing TAU’s position as the largest AI center in Israel that fosters interdisciplinary collaborations in the field.

Perspectives on Challenges and Security Concerns

TAU Professor Meir Feder, head of the TAU Center for Artificial Intelligence & Data Science (TAD), offered his view of pressing issues in the field of AI. He addressed the exorbitant costs associated with AI, prompting questions about ownership rights and control.   Professor Meir Feder, Tel Aviv University (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Prof. Feder remarked that, presently, AI falls short of true intelligence, characterizing it as a clever ‘cut and paste’ solution devoid of genuine creativity.  
“We know what we built but we do not know why it works,”—Prof. Meir Feder
  Major General (Ret.) Isaac Ben Israel, Chairman of the AI Day and the Director of TAU Blavatnik ICRC, highlighted several challenges associated with the rapid development of AI, emphasizing the escalating vulnerability of various spheres of human activity to cyber attacks. This vulnerability becomes ever more pronounced as our dependence on AI grows. Major General Isaac Ben Israel, Director of TAU Blavatnik ICRC (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Given the critical significance of cybersecurity in light of the rapid proliferation of AI, a dedicated conference track was exclusively focused on security issues. The track centered on exploring the utilization of AI in intelligence gathering and analysis, threat detection, alert investigation, security posture analysis, and other pertinent areas to boost the effectiveness of security teams in their daily operations.

AI at the Service of Democracy and Truth

In the Fake News track, several of the talks focused on the AI tools that can efficiently detect fake images and stories online, identify social media bots and trolls used for commercial and political influence, and uncover deep fakes, which have inundated the social media recently in massive disinformation or influence campaigns.  
“The Russia-Ukraine war was the first war fought on social media,”—Tom Alexandrovitch, Executive Director of the Defense Division, Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD)
  Zachary Elisha Bamberger, from the Technion, presented the AI-powered persuasive argumentation agent developed to combat hate and misinformation online in the wake of October 7. The underlying principles of the agent that posts comments under anti-Israeli content on social media include establishing trust by citing sources and figures of authority, effectively using logic and complex reasoning, and leveraging emotional appeal.   (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) The solution can adjust the length and tone of the comments, as well as the level of formality and political and ideological stance to suit the target language and culture. It is also capable of understanding context and captions. Using AI on social media provides for faster and more impactful responses across multiple platforms.  The AI agent can also predict how popular the content will be and estimate confidence in the response. In addition, it can report hateful posts found online.  
By 2026, 90% of media online will be AI-generated —Europol
  Professor Irad Ben Gal, Head of TAU LAMBDA lab, discussed the strategy of unveiling inauthentic synchronized campaigns on social media. Emphasizing the importance of combating the infrastructure rather than individually pursuing posts, he highlighted the value of analyzing bot activity.  This approach makes it possible to detect coordination of fake users, model their behavior, and make recommendations for exposing and mitigating their impact. Prof. Ben Gal (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Prof. Ben Gal illustrated this approach with the example of the Gaza hospital attack, where an immediate surge in coordinated activity by a significant number of bots was observed.
$78 bln lost each year due to narrative attacks +400% antisemitic incidents in the USA 88% of investors consider narrative attacks on corporations a serious issue
Michael Matias, CEO of Clarity, stressed that the staggering growth in the number of deepfakes online and AI disinformation in general poses the foremost threat to democracy on a global scale. Therefore, the critical task of detecting deepfakes is of paramount importance at the moment.  
“There has been a 900% yearly increase in the number of deepfakes online,”—Michael Matias, CEO of Clarity
  In the arms race of generative AI vs detector AI, another major task is protecting the integrity of history, so Clarity has been actively involved in the authentication of media from October 7 massacre. Danny Bickson, CEO of Visual Layer (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Computer vision experts have also been working with war footage, managing, exploring and visualizing war crime videos. Danny Bickson, CEO of Visual Layer, a startup creating & maintaining the popular open source fastdup for managing large-scale visual data, detailed the pro bono work the company has been doing for the Ministry of Diaspora and Ministry of Defense.  
“The Iron Swords War is one of the first wars where critical visual information is found on millions of social network videos released daily.”— Danny Bickson, CEO of Visual Layer
  Professor Karine Nahon, Head of Data, Government and Democracy program at Reichman University, emphasized in her talk about the work of the missing and hostages war room that technology alone is not sufficient. It is ultimately down to the people to not only develop new algorithms, but also to create an environment conducive to nurturing ideas. Professor Karine Nahon, Reichman University, and Gili Drob-Heistein, Executive Director of the Blavatnik ICRC and Yuval Ne’eman Workshop for Science, Technology and Security (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) The volunteer initiative spearheaded by Nahon brought together 1500 people from academia and industry. They collaborated to pool data from diverse online sources, including Hamas’s telegram channels, content uploaded by individuals on the ground, and footage from Hamas terrorists. The goal of the team was to devise effective strategies for identifying hostages and kidnappers.  
“You can’t use the usual face recognition AI when the face is bleeding. There is also a lot of human intelligence and social network analysis,”— Professor Karine Nahon, Reichman University
  This concentrated effort has yielded at least six algorithms that can be helpful in the event of future multi-casualty incidents.

Becoming Stronger with AI

AI has the potential to enhance resilience across various sectors, spanning public services, education, health, defense, economics, emergency response, transportation, science, and climate. In the field of education, AI can assist teachers in crafting personalized learning content tailored to individual student needs. However, it is imperative to consider crucial issues such as responsible AI usage, privacy protection, and ensuring equitable access to these technologies.  
“Our goal is to understand how education can use AI in a smart and fair way, helping to create a strong and adaptable learning environment,”— Merav Mofaz, Microsoft Education
  In the realm of medicine, AI plays a pivotal role, especially in diagnostics and DNA testing. It proves invaluable in forensic DNA analysis for identification purposes. Professor Noam Shomron, Head of the Functional Genomic Team at the TAU Faculty of Medicine, detailed the work undertaken post-October 7 to identify victims of the massacre using very small or damaged DNA fragments recovered from severely burnt bodies. Additionally, AI can aid in identifying soldiers potentially prone to PTSD, enabling preventive treatment. Professor Noam Shomron, TAU ( (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Professor Erez Shmueli, Head of the Big Data Lab and Co-Head of the Data Science undergraduate program at Tel Aviv University, presented findings from a study monitoring early signs of PTSD in individuals indirectly exposed to the October 7 events. The results reveal unprecedented levels of stress and PTSD among participants.  
“News consumption and the number of gory videos watched significantly correlate with PTSD prevalence,”—Professor Erez Shmueli, Tel Aviv University
  Continuous monitoring through smartwatches and daily questionnaires highlighted significant variations in stress, mood, step counts, sleep quality, and duration in the first week post-October 7 events, particularly among those who later developed PTSD.

What the Future Holds

In the fireside chat discussion, Professor Yoav Shoham, Co-founder and Co-CEO at AI21 Labs, shared insights on AI and natural language processing in 2024. He anticipates the continued emergence of new language models, with smaller specialized models potentially remaining open source, while larger models are likely to remain proprietary. Language models will be incorporated in larger, more comprehensive AI tools. Mor Geva, Assistant Professor at the Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University and Professor Yoav Shoham, Co-founder and Co-CEO at AI21 Labs (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Shoham emphasized that the relationship with machines will be transformative for humanity rather than destructive. He envisions a future where machines and humans coexist and collaborate.  
“We’ll control the potential downside. I’m more concerned that AI won’t be powerful enough than that it will be too powerful,”—Professor Yoav Shoham
  Prof. Lior Wolf, in the Computer Vision track, noted that major AI tasks have been solved, leading to the next challenge of building and training general-purpose robots. Dr. Ziv Katzir, head of the national AI program, highlighted global trends toward legal regulation of AI, including a proposed global treaty. Despite an overall decline in funding, there’s exponential growth in generative AI investment.  Dr. Ziv Katzir, head of the National AI program (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) Locally, the National AI program shifted focus to practical solutions, emphasizing natural language processing for Hebrew and spoken Arabic, AI talent development through scholarships at all levels of higher education, investment in computer infrastructure, wider AI application in the public sector, and the development of a legal framework for trustworthy AI.  
Israel consistently ranks in the top ten overall and is second in terms of per capita investment in AI
  Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli Investment Authority has launched a new fast-track fund to fund local high-tech companies in the product development phase to strengthen the sector and national economy as a whole.  (Photo courtesy of Blavatnik ICRC) AI Day 2024, held at Tel Aviv University in cooperation with the Israel Innovation Authority and Israel National Cyber Directorate, captured the collaborative spirit of experts and industry leaders, emphasizing AI’s role in driving positive change. Beyond a gathering, AI Day 2024 embodied a commitment to a future where AI propels innovation and progress in tangible ways.

A Scientific Breakthrough That Will Help Increase Plant Yields in Dry Conditions

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Using CRISPR technology, researchers succeed in growing tomatoes that consume less water without compromising yield.

A new discovery by Tel Aviv University has succeeded in cultivating and characterizing tomato varieties with higher water use efficiency without compromising yield. The researchers, employing CRISPR genetic editing technology, were able to grow tomatoes that consume less water while preserving yield, quality, and taste.

The research was conducted in the laboratories of Prof. Shaul Yalovsky and Dr. Nir Sade, and was led by a team of researchers from the School of Plant Sciences and Food Security at Tel Aviv University’s Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. The team included Dr. Mallikarjuna Rao Puli, a former postdoctoral fellow supervised by Prof. Yalovsky, and Purity Muchoki, a doctoral student jointly supervised by Prof. Yalovsky and Dr. Sade. Additional students and postdoctoral fellows from TAU’s School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, along with researchers from Ben Gurion University and the University of Oregon, also contributed to the research. The study’s findings were published in the academic journal PNAS.

The researchers explain that in light of global warming and the diminishing of freshwater resources, there is a growing demand for agricultural crops that consume less water without compromising yield. Naturally, at the same time, because agricultural crops rely on water to grow and develop, it is particularly challenging to identify suitable plant varieties.

In a process called transpiration, plants evaporate water from their leaves. Concurrently, carbon dioxide enters into the leaves, and is assimilated into sugar by photosynthesis, which also takes place in the leaves. These two processes — transpiration and carbon dioxide uptake — occur simultaneously through special openings in the surface of leaves called stomata. The stomata can open and close, serving as a mechanism through which plants regulate their water status.

The researchers highlight that under drought conditions, plants respond by closing their stomata, thereby reducing water loss by transpiration. The problem is that due to the inextricable coupling between the transpiration of the water and the uptake of carbon dioxide, the closing of the stomata leads to a reduction in the uptake of carbon dioxide by the plant. This decrease in carbon dioxide uptake leads to a decline in the production of sugar by photosynthesis. Since plants rely on the sugar generated in photosynthesis as a vital energy source, a reduction in this process adversely affects plant growth.

In crop plants, the decline in photosynthetic sugar production manifests as a decline in both the quantity and quality of the harvest. In tomatoes, for example, the damage to the crop is reflected in a decrease in the number of fruits, their weight, and the amount of sugar in each fruit. Fruits with lower sugar content are less tasty and less nutritious.

In the present study, the researchers induced a modification in the tomato through genetic editing using the CRISPR method, targeting a gene known as ROP9. The ROP proteins function as switches, toggling between an active or inactive state.

Prof. Yalovsky: “We discovered that eliminating ROP9 by the CRISPR technology cause a partial closure of the stomata. This effect is particularly pronounced during midday, when the rate of water loss from the plants in the transpiration process is at its highest. Conversely, in the morning and afternoon, when the transpiration rate is lower, there was no significant difference in the rate of water loss between the control plants and ROP9-modified plants. Because the stomata remained open in the morning and afternoon, the plants were able to uptake enough carbon dioxide, preventing any decline in sugar production by photosynthesis even during the afternoon hours, when the stomata were more closed in the ROP9-modified plants.”

To assess the impact of the impaired ROP9 on the crop, the researchers conducted an extensive field experiment involving hundreds of plants. The results revealed that although the ROP9-modified plants lose less water during the transpiration process, there is no adverse effect on photosynthesis, crop quantity, or quality (the amount of sugar in the fruits). Furthermore, the study identified a new and unexpected mechanism for regulating the opening and closing of the stomata, related to the level of oxidizing substances, known as reactive oxygen species, in the stomata. This discovery holds significant implications for basic scientific knowledge as well.

Dr. Sade: “There is great similarity between the ROP9 in tomatoes and ROP proteins found in other crop plants such as pepper, eggplant and wheat. Therefore, the discoveries detailed in our article could form the basis for the development of additional crop plants with enhanced water use efficiency, and for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind stomatal opening and closing.”

TAU’s Academic Term Officially Begins

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After Waiting Months, Students Share Their Experiences of Being Back on Campus.

On December 31, 2023, while many around the world celebrated the close of a year, Tel Aviv University (TAU) marked a new beginning, albeit one that was originally supposed to occur two and a half months before on October 15: the official start of the academic term (for those not in international programs). Classrooms filled up, campus coffee shops were full of chatter, and TAU’s green lawns once again welcomed scores of friends taking in the sunshine between classes. In many ways, the campus is back to normal. And yet, posters advocating for the return of hostages still hang prominently; many of TAU’s reserve students have not yet fully returned to class; and a shadow is cast by October 7 and the Israel-Hamas war. Nevertheless, for those students who have returned, there is something they can all agree on: having classes to go to again, being with their peers again, is something for which they are entirely grateful.  
“People are really excited to see one another and have a bit of a normal life.” — third-year political science and gender studies student Noa Ilona Joffe.
  “We’re all trying to see the positive of it, to feel something positive again after a long time,” says Joffe.

Finding Connection After October 7

Joffe, who is a recent immigrant to Israel from Germany, was in South America when October 7 happened, as she had been volunteering in Guatemala with AMRIS, an organization that supports local Indigenous women. When her flight back to Israel on October 12 was canceled, she decided she would stay on in South America and continue volunteering at a hostel. For those students not in the military reserves, Joffe says the months before the academic term have mainly been a waiting period, with most people trying to volunteer or fill up their time in other ways. And that, in some ways, the return to campus feels like the return after COVID-19 lockdowns. For instance, while classes are currently offered in a hybrid format and can be watched online, Joffe notes that attending in person at TAU is far more popular.  
“If you have the possibility to come to class, you come to class. Everyone is extra engaged and really wants to have that connection.”
  She also says her instructors have been very accommodating: “They are all wanting to know what we want and trying to adjust everything to us and how we emotionally feel.” Nevertheless, she does at times find class difficult, especially given that she is majoring in political science. “I have a class called ‘Morality and Terror’ and while there are lots of topics to discuss, it always comes back to October 7,” she shares. “Because it is still very fresh and very emotional, it is sometimes a little bit hard to be analyzing from an academic point of view.” Joffe emphasizes that every Israeli has been impacted significantly by October 7; for her, a girl in her program was murdered and she had two family friends taken hostage (they have since been released). Yet, despite difficult emotions, Joffe emphasizes that being back in university is the right move for her: “I’m a new immigrant and everyone I know in Israel is from university,” she says. “I don’t know what I would do in Israel without university right now, so I’m very happy it started again.”

A New Start for International Students

International student Ma Zengyu is also excited to finally be on campus at TAU. Zengyu received her offer from the university one week before October 7 to begin a PhD track with TAU’s Department of East Asian Studies.  Once she got her visa, she kept waiting until she could book her ticket from China to Israel to begin her studies. She arrived on December 28 and said she’s been enjoying classes since the start of the term and is focused on setting up her life here. “I’m just trying to make some connections with my new friends, new classmates,” she said. Zengyu also previously completed her MA in Ancient Israel Studies at TAU and admits that she does feel like the atmosphere has changed a bit since then; however, her biggest impression is that most people at the university are trying to get a bit of normalcy back.  
“Everyone is trying to focus on what they’re doing right now and trying to get everything back on track.”
  “I think they are doing all the right things to make sure they can keep going,” — says Zengyu.

From the Reserves to the Classroom

At the same time, many TAU students who are or have been in the military reserves are still very much in a period of transition; while some have returned to campus, more are expected to return in the coming weeks. And for some reserve students, such as Ido Gazit, the feeling of being in transition is especially strong. Gazit, who is a double major at TAU in engineering and the humanities, should have graduated by now; he completed his courses last term and was working with a group to submit their final engineering project on October 15. However, he got called up for duty the evening of October 7 and had to report to a base in the south of Israel the next morning. “I’m stuck in my third year,” says Gazit. While Gazit continues to work full-time in the military, he was recently restationed somewhere in central Israel and at that point, he approached his commander and got special permission to take a German course through TAU.  
“I wanted to do something that made me feel like a person and not a soldier.”
  “It makes me feel good – like a student again,” says Gazit, who has taken two German language courses at TAU previously. “And I think it’s something good for me after three months of only doing things for the country.” Concurrently, Gazit is also working to finally defend his project. “It’s already not that fresh in my brain – I had to read everything again and I don’t want to drag it to next year.” While Gazit knows he will not be able to leave his position in the reserves yet, he has asked his commander if his current language-class arrangement could be made permanent. And he is thinking about what his next steps could be after his military service and is seriously considering graduate school. “If I’m going to do it in engineering, I’d do a master’s in electrical engineering; if I do it in humanities, it would probably be something in history,” says Gazit. “However, I also might take some time to work or maybe just be a citizen for a while.

Tel Aviv University Helps Make Case Before International Court of Justice

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Legal Delegation in Israel vs. South Africa Hearing included Alumni and Former Faculty.

On January 12, 2024, before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a legal team representing Israel argued why a case by South Africa accusing the Jewish state of genocide in Gaza was not only unfounded and out of context, but dangerous to both Israel and the integrity and intent of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (aka the Genocide Convention). And, both before the court and behind the scenes at the ICJ hearing in The Hague that day, Tel Aviv University (TAU) was present in a significant way. One key contributor to Israel’s legal team is Prof. Eyal Benvenisti, who is the former head of the Parasol Foundation International L.L.M. Program at TAU and is currently appointed to the University of Cambridge. And while Benvenisti has been working behind the scenes, two TAU alumni were front and center on January 12, speaking before the court: Dr. Galit Raguan and Dr. Omri Sender.   Dr. Galit Raguan, an alumna of Tel Aviv University and a member of Israel’s legal delegation. (Image courtesy of the ICJ. All rights reserved) While a final resolution on the case is expected to take years, South Africa has requested that, in the interim, the ICJ make nine provisional/immediate orders, including ceasing all military action by Israel in the Gaza Strip. The outcome of the public hearings, which took place on January 11-12, will be a ruling related to these requested provisional measures.

Evidence Against South Africa’s Claims of Genocide

Both Raguan and Sender presented significant evidence contradicting the accusations made by South Africa. Raguan questioned the plausibility that Israel is committing genocide by outlining Israel Defense Forces (IDF) efforts both to protect civilian lives and to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and by demonstrating how Hamas contributes to the civilian death count in Gaza. Regarding Hamas’ role in civilian harm, Raguan stated that 2,000 rockets have thus far been misfired by Hamas within Gaza. She also presented evidence, including photos of weapons caches found by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), demonstrating Hamas’ embeddedness in civilian infrastructure, such as schools, places of worship and medical facilities. “In every single hospital that the IDF has searched in Gaza, it has found evidence of Hamas military use,” Raguan said.  
As for efforts made by the IDF to temporarily evacuate civilians and provide advance warnings, Raguan pointed to the establishment of humanitarian corridors, the millions of leaflets physically dropped into Gaza with instructions on how to evacuate, and the more than 70,000 individual phone calls made to Gazans.
  “While temporary evacuation undoubtedly involves hardship and suffering, it is preferable to remaining in areas of intensive hostilities,” said Raguan, who confirmed that temporary evacuation is a tool promoted under international humanitarian law. As presented by Israel’s legal team in court, the IDF found Hamas intelligence information and multiple weapons caches at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, including in the MRI Center. (Image courtesy of the ICJ. All rights reserved) Raguan also outlined the role of the IDF’s dedicated military unit Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which oversees border crossings from Israel and works with the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Despite an attack on COGAT on October 7, Raguan said the unit has extended its operating hours at both the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings to receive more humanitarian goods. Raguan also said the unit has assisted with establishing four field hospitals and two floating hospitals, getting new ambulances into Gaza and the coordination of air drops. She highlighted how humanitarian assistance continues and that no limitations have been posed, even though “Hamas is regularly stealing aid at the expense of its own population.”

The Rights of Palestinians in Gaza to Exist

Following Raguan, Sender refuted South Africa’s accusation that there was an urgent risk of irreparable harm to Gazans for which Israel was responsible. He demonstrated instead how Israel supports the right to exist for Palestinians in Gaza. To establish this, Sender provided further illumination of how Israel assists with the delivery of humanitarian aid, which was continuing to increase: “when pressing needs are identified, solutions are soon coordinated” said Sender, also pointing to a dedicated operations room for humanitarian assistance made up of Israeli, Egyptian, American and UN representatives. Dr. Omri Sender, an alumnus of Tel Aviv University and a member of Israel’s legal delegation. (Image courtesy of the ICJ. All rights reserved) Sender noted that, before the war, approximately 70 trucks carrying food entered Gaza every day, whereas in the first two weeks of January 109 trucks entered each day. He also highlighted that the amount of cooking gas entering Gaza had doubled to 90 tons per day since December 21; moreover, since December 8, the amount of fuel entering Gaza had also doubled and now meets the target requested by the UN: 180,000 liters per day. Sender also pointed to the fact that the hostilities in Gaza are winding down, and he stated that Israel has already started to transition to a phase with fewer ground troops and less intense fighting. Furthermore, as argued by team lead Prof. Malcolm Shaw KC, South Africa also failed to effectively illustrate Israel’s intent to commit genocide. Given the case is at the provisional measures phase, genocidal acts do not have to be proven; demonstrating plausible intent would be enough for the court to intervene. However, as Shaw contended, to do this one must directly link any potential utterance or statement to on-the-ground policy. In this, South Africa failed, Shaw argued. A map of evacuation zones created by the IDF to assist with civilian safety was shared in court, along with a screenshot of an instructional video in Arab of how to use the map (Image courtesy of the ICJ. All rights reserved) To further support this claim, Shaw also provided evidence of daily IDF operational directives that, in accordance with international law and contradicting South Africa’s case, prioritize mitigating harm to and punishment of civilians.

The Legal Unfoundedness of the Case

A repeated statement made throughout the public hearing by Sender, Shaw and others was that, should the measures proposed by South Africa be upheld by the court, then Israel and its citizens would face irreparable harm given Hamas’ continued commitment (as additionally stated by Hamas leadership after October 7) to the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. As Shaw argued, were the court to uphold South Africa’s requested provisional measures, then this would contradict the Genocide Convention itself, which protects the rights not only of the applicant (or who the applicant is representing), but the respondent. “Chief amongst these rights,” said Shaw, regarding Israel, “is the right and obligation to act, to defend itself and its citizens.” Members of Israel’s legal delegation at the International Court of Justice. (credit: UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/Frank van Beek. Courtesy of the ICJ. All rights reserved) Moreover, the general omission of Hamas from South Africa’s case was something, the Israel team argued, that demonstrated a high level of prejudice:  
“The nightmarish environment created by Hamas has been concealed by the applicant, but it is the environment in which Israel is compelled to operate. What Israel seeks in operating in Gaza is not to destroy a people, but to protect a people – its people – who are under attack on multiple fronts.” —  Dr. Tal Becker, a member of Israel’s legal team
  Additionally, given that the Jewish state has had the right, as recognized by the international community, to defend itself after October 7, Israel’s legal team argued that events relating to the Israel-Hamas war should not even be evaluated under the Genocide Convention, but that the proper mechanism was the legal framework for war as guided by international humanitarian law. Finally, Shaw emphasized that Genocide Convention cases must be between two states in dispute. He argued that South Africa was in contravention of this and referenced an exchange of notes before the case was filed that demonstrated Israel’s willingness to meet and discuss South Africa’s concerns.

A Dangerous Precedent Could Be Set

While a ruling in support of South Africa’s provisional measures would pose a great danger to Israel, it would also pose significant harm to the integrity of the Genocide Convention: “Entertaining the applicant’s request will not strengthen the commitment to prevent the punishment of genocide but weaken it,” said Dr. Gilad Noam, who concluded the public hearing and Israel’s arguments.  
“It will turn an instrument adopted by the international community to prevent horrors of the kind that shocked the conscience of humanity during the Holocaust into a weapon in the hands of terrorist groups who have no regard for humanity or for the law.” — Dr. Gilad Noam, a member of Israel’s legal delegation
  At the end of the session on January 12, elected ICJ Judge and President Joan E. Donoghue said the court would make a deliberation “as soon as possible” on the provisional measures brought forward by South Africa. A decision is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

Tel Aviv University Marks 100 Days Since the Hamas Attack

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TAU aimed to reflect on the impact the last 100 days of war on various fields of research, express our support families of the hostages, and to rally together in the cry to bring all hostages home.

On January 14, the Tel Aviv University community marked 100 days since the Hamas attack on Israel. In various events across campus, TAU aimed to reflect on the impact the last 100 days of war on various fields of research, express our support families of the hostages, and to rally together in the cry to bring all hostages home.

100 Minutes for 100 Days: Examining the Impact of War

The inaugural event, ‘100 Minutes for 100 Days,’ brought together researchers from diverse fields such as psychology, ecology, and information technology. Adopting a TED-style format, the researchers presented the impact the war has had on their various fields. The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Jeremy Fogel from the Department of Jewish Philosophy in the TAU Faculty of Humanities.

Prof Ariel Porat speaking at the ‘100 minutes for 100 days’ ceremony

“Tel Aviv University is an ark which will save us from the flood and allow us to build a new world that will come afterwards” (Dr. Jeremy Fogel)”

The event opened with an address from Prof. Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University. In his speech, he rallied the university community, urging both faculty and students to unite and fortify national resilience. He remarked, “Our open wound does not cease to bleed. Since October 7, 15 of our students have lost their lives, and over 60 families within the university community have experienced the profound pain of losing their loved ones. We collectively mourn their tragic deaths and yearn for the safe return of the soldiers and all the hostages.”

Prof. Porat then spoke about the decision to start the fall semester. “We realized that if we don’t do this, everyone will be hurt. We created a support network to help our students who are currently serving in the IDF, so as not to let them fall behind in their studies.We all feel that we owe them a lot; that is a debt that will never be fully repaid. And now it’s our turn to protect them, their careers, and give back to them even a little in return for what they’re doing for all of us.”

For our national resilience it is important to try and maintain some kind of routine in the time of the war. This is crucial for the future of the State of Israel. “We cannot afford the luxury of putting the economy or higher education on hold, hoping that everything will somehow turn out fine. We mustn’t cease the production of doctors for the health system, engineers, tech professionals, psychologists, and more. It is imperative that we rise to the task of the national importance that lies before us,” he concluded.

Dr. Lior Zalmanson, a senior lecturer and assistant professor at the Technology and Information Management Program, Coller School of Management, specializes in studying human behavior in virtual environments. In his discussion, he explored the role of AI in wartime communication and how technology companies influence narratives. Dr. Zalmanson also highlighted the potential dangers of AI in our daily digital interactions, pointing out its capacity to introduce biases in opinions, particularly through the presentation of specific verbal or visual content.

Prof. Marcelo Sternberg, a climate change scholar and the head of the Plant Ecology Lab in the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, addressed a less-discussed aspect of the war’s impact. “I am excited to talk to you about a subject that may not receive much attention in the media,” he began, diving into topics such as soil contamination with heavy metals and explosives, the destruction of various habitats for plants and animals, the severe disruption to Israel’s food security caused by the shutdown of numerous farms in proximity to Gaza, and more.

Dealing with Post-Trauma

Dr. Michal Kahn, a licensed clinical psychologist and the head of Sleep Research laboratory from the Gershon H. Gordon School of Psychological Sciences in the Faculty of Social Sciences, is part of the team of therapists working at the newly opened National Trauma and Resilience Center, which operates on TAU campus and provides PTSD treatment at a nominal cost to affected civilians and IDF soldiers.

“These moments, face-to-face with the terrorists and the shootings, have, of course, been with her ever since – there is no escaping from them, ‘and yet’, as she tells me, I’m a simple case'”

The panel of experts. From the left to right: Dr. Lior Zalmanson, Dr. Michal Kahn, Prof. Marcelo Sternberg, and Dr. Jeremy Fogel

Kahn talked about the psychological aspect of the war, highlighting the increased incidence of anxiety disorders and PTSD. She also offered insights into potential treatment methods and provided a glimpse into her volunteer work with survivors of the Nova party.

“While they were being led into Gaza, Rimon asked Yagav ‘what should we do? They took your guitar that you love so much,’ and he answered with the simplicity that is so characteristic of him: ‘If one child learns to play and is happy, at least one good thing has happened'” (Nofer Buchstab, PhD student in the Faculty of Life Sciences, about the moment of her brother’s kidnapping)”

Unity and Remembrance: TAU Campus Rally

“Hundreds of people, including hostage family members, Prof. Ariel Porat (the President of the university), and Daniel Zilber (the chairman of the Student Union), participated in the rally held on the TAU campus. Classes were suspended for an hour, and the entire university community gathered in the rain to call for the release of all the hostages, who have been held captive in Gaza for 100 days.

Among those speaking at the rally were:

  • Nofer Buchstab, PhD student in the Faculty of Life Sciences, sister of Yagav Buchstab, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim together with his partner Rimon. Rimon was released from captivity, but Yagav is still held in Gaza.
  • Gil Dickman, cousin of Carmel Gat, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri. Carmel is a graduate of the TAU Faculty of Medicine with a bachelor’s in occupational therapy and a graduate student in therapy and occupational therapy at the Hebrew University. Gil is a graduate of the School of Psychological Sciences at Tel Aviv University.
  • Merav Svirsky, sister of Itay Svirsky, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri. Itay is a TAU graduate with degrees in psychology and economics. His cousin is Prof. Uri Ben-David from the Faculty of Medicine. Merav and Itay’s parents were murdered by Hamas on Black Sabbath on October 7.
  • Yifat Calderon, cousin of Ofer Calderon, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his children Sahar and Erez. Sahar and Erez were released, but Ofer still remains in captivity. Yifat is one of the leaders of the Hostage Forum that brings together relatives of the hostages.
  • Anat Shoshani, a student at the Faculty of Management, the granddaughter of Adina Moshe, who was kidnapped from the Nir Oz compound and released from captivity. Anat’s grandfather, Said Moshe, was murdered.
  • Stav Levy, a student at the School of Architecture, the partner of Idan Shativ, who was kidnapped from the Nova festival.

At the end of the campus rally, faculty members and students marched to the Hostage Square in the center of Tel Aviv to join the remembrance ceremony there.

The day concluded with a One Million Bells event held at the Lowy International School where members of TAU community gathered to ring bells for one full minute to show solidarity with the hostages.

Artist Doron Gazit presented a display featuring yellow balloons made from recycled materials, shaped in the form of the iconic yellow ribbon associated with the ongoing effort for the return of the hostages.

Voices of Resilience and Hope Echo in Solidarity

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Lowy International School Marks 100 Days since October 7.

On January 14, the Lowy International School community commemorated 100 days since October 7, marking a somber milestone with 136 hostages held captive during all this time. TAU international students met with October 7 survivors and hostage representatives, and the bell-ringing ceremony was held in the afternoon to call for the release of all hostages.

Making the Voice of Israel Heard

October 7 survivors and hostage representatives came to the Lowy International School to share their stories with the members of the Israel War Story social media task force run by TAU international students who strive to combat misinformation online regarding the Israel-Hamas war. The seminar was a joint initiative of the task force and Talk Israel and Israel Is movements. Together, the session participants brainstormed ways of sharing authentic stories on social media to reach a wider audience around the world and make the voice of Israel heard.    

Kayla Goldberger (USA), 2nd year student in BA in Management and Liberal Arts:

“This is the first time I’ve heard someone talk first-hand about the Nova festival. It is a different experience and it humanizes the experience of what is going on.  
One of the main takeaways for me today is how raw everything still is – everyone is still grieving here in Israel. I also saw how important and valuable sharing survivors’ stories is.”
 

Stefanie M. Schulz (Germany), a graduate of the master’s program in Security and Diplomacy:

“The most important and special part of the day was getting to meet the survivor of the Nova festival and people advocating on behalf of the hostage families. The social media training was also useful even if there wasn’t a lot of new material. It was good to hear advice on how to present content. It confirmed our feeling that authentic content, even if it’s less professional, has better reach.”  

Ring to Remember, Ring to Reclaim, Ring to Return

At 4 pm, the TAU community gathered at the Lowy International School to ring bells for one full minute as part of the global One Million Bells initiative to show solidarity with the hostages.     As Dr. Inon Schenker, Initiative Creator, explains: “Bells have been a powerful tool for centuries. One bell can warn of danger and save a village; One million bells may shake the world, herald hope and mark a line between humanity and evil. October 7th, 2024 must be remembered globally as a defining moment against terror.”  
The sound of the bells echoed three powerful messages calling everyone to remember the murdered, injured, their families and loved ones; reclaim a world without terror, antisemitism, bigotry, and racism; and return the remaining hostages immediately.
 

Maureen Adiri Meyer, Director, The Lowy International School:

“As the international school at TAU, we have always recognized the importance of global understanding and unity – particularly on our international campus. As we mark 100 days, having bells ring out around the world reminds us of the power of community, remembrance, and solidarity and how much it is needed right now.”     TAU Rector Prof. Mark Shtaif extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of all the war casualties and expressed sincere hope for the swift release of the hostages and a resolution to the conflict. Tal, a representative from the Hostage Forum, underscored the urgency of advocating for the prompt liberation of hostages. American actress and performer Jade Taylor sang at the event, accompanied by Ido Montaniez.   Ido Montaniez and Jade Taylor at the Lowy International School Partners of the One Million Bells initiative included the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, World Zionist Organization, Center for Jewish Impact, major hotel chains, the Stock Exchange, United Nations for Israel, Impact for Healthy Future, NOVA, and global faith organizations.

University of Pennsylvania’s Solidarity Visit to Tel Aviv University

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Understanding Trauma and Building Collaborations.

Against the backdrop of escalating concerns regarding antisemitism on American university campuses, a significant delegation from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) embarked on a solidarity visit to Tel Aviv University on January 4. The purpose of their visit was twofold: to express unwavering support for their Israeli counterparts and to gain profound insights into the aftermath of the harrowing events that transpired on October 7. The collaborative effort resulted in a joint symposium titled “October 7th: Coping with Trauma,” a comprehensive exploration of social, political, and psychological perspectives. Prof. Michael Kahana, from the University of Pennsylvania, who initiated the open letter in support of Israel and the current visit said: ‘In the weeks after October 7, we felt very distant in physical space, but very close in emotional space. I’m gratified that so many colleagues, many of whom I haven’t even met before joined me on this visit.”  
“Together we’ll come out of this stronger.”— Michael Kahana, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania
  Michael Kahana, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania TAU President Ariel Porat thanked the UPenn delegation for their visit: “It’s important for us to have people like you come to us during these most difficult times ever because these days we need friends.  
“Choosing to come shows support and empathy for people in Israel and Israeli universities.” TAU President Ariel Porat
 

TAU Rises to the Challenge

Addressing the challenges the university faced since the war’s inception, Ariel Porat explained that, immediately after October 7, up to one-third of undergraduates were called up for reserve duty. As a result, the academic year was postponed by more than two months and only started on December 31 to avoid losing the full academic year. Special provisions were instituted to aid reserve soldiers in completing their academic commitments while still being on active duty. Beyond logistical challenges, potential tension between Jewish and Arab communities on campus posed an additional hurdle. TAU, committed to fostering a safe environment for all, undertook substantial efforts to ensure a smooth start to the academic year without incidents.
“We are sensitive to free speech, even when it collides with other values. Even in times of war, democracy, human rights and civil rights are not suspended,” commented President Porat.
Notably, TAU, unlike some other Israeli universities, refrained from expelling students expressing views related to the October 7th massacre without following proper legal procedures.  

Navigating Trauma through Cinema

Renowned Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher, drawing from his extensive experience, presented a unique perspective on trauma through the lens of cinema. Reflecting on two of his films, The Matchmaker and The Image of Victory, Nesher underscored cinema’s role in shaping a nation’s mythology and the imperative of acknowledging conflicting narratives.   The Matchmaker delves into the profound bond uniting the Israeli people, formed as a reaction to the Holocaust. Nesher highlighted the collective post-trauma stemming from the Holocaust, an ever-present yet unspoken force in the national psyche. The events of October 7, by reactivating this deep-seated trauma, resonated profoundly with the nation.   Professor Peter Decherney (UPenn), film director Avi Nesher, film scholar Dr Shmulik Duvdevani  
“We don’t want to think about ourselves as lamb to slaughter. Locked into a collective, locked into post-holocaust trauma, we’ll all emerge only as a collective.” — Avi Nesher, filmmaker
  In The Image of Victory, which recounts the 1948 Egyptian raid on a kibbutz, Nesher weaves together opposing narratives. He argued that cinema’s power lies in compelling audiences to confront and ultimately acknowledge uncomfortable truths.  
“If there are two conflicting narratives, the conflict can go on forever. Sympathy is possible when you honor the narrative you don’t agree with and learn to co-exist.”
  Nesher added that the complete negation of the Israeli narrative witnessed on many university campuses felt like a major betrayal as universities are the first places where conflicting narratives should be embraced.  

A Dive into the Background to the War

Prof Itamar Rabinovitch, former TAU President, ambassador to the US (1993-1996), and Visiting Professor at UPenn, Harvard, and Stanford, provided a succinct political analysis of the ongoing conflict. Describing the events of October 7 as the most severe crisis since the establishment of the state, he attributed the crisis to failures in politics, policy, intelligence, and military execution.   Prof Itamar Ravinovitch, former TAU President, ambassador to the US (1993-1996), and Visiting Professor at UPenn, Harvard, and Stanford   The internal divide in the country, exacerbated by attempts to weaken democracy, created an opportunity for adversaries. The policy to cultivate Hamas at the expense of the Palestinian Authority backfired, leading to a significant transfer of Qatari money into the hands of Hamas. Intelligence failures compounded the situation, resulting in a delayed response from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Prof Rabinovitch stressed that the current conflict is not merely a war with Gaza but represents the first war between Israel and Iran, with an uncertain resolution and future plans for Gaza.  
However, the strength and resilience of the Israeli civil society inspire optimism about the future.

Understanding Trauma: Psychological and Social Dimensions

The symposium’s third panel, Perspectives on Trauma, provided a comprehensive examination of psychological and social dimensions. Prof Talma Hendler, the session moderator, highlighted the collective impact of the October 7 events on every individual in Israel, creating a shared sense of group trauma. Prof. Bruria Adiri presented findings from a longitudinal study initiated post-attack, assessing distress and resilience across various social groups. Initial measurements in mid-October revealed unprecedented distress levels, gradually subsiding by November. Societal resilience exhibited a peak on October 23, marked by diverse groups coming together in solidarity. However, over time, societal resilience experienced a decline, while individual resilience continued to grow.  
Factors influencing individual resilience included hope, community resilience, government support, and religiosity.
  Higher vulnerability was noted among 30 to 40-year-olds, potentially attributed to heightened stressors related to finances, careers, family responsibilities, and uncertainty about the future.  

Addressing Mental Health Challenges Post-Attack

Prof Gil Zaisman delved into mental health issues, outlining contributing factors to post-traumatic stress in the Israeli population. The October 7 attack, marked by extreme cruelty and sexual violence, triggered PTSD even in those not directly involved, exacerbated by the online dissemination of terrorist-recorded footage.   To counteract these effects, Israeli mental health professionals initiated various initiatives. Immediate victims were treated, and initiatives like the Regional Trauma Center, Daycare Unit for Sexual Victims, and Center for Children and Adolescents were established. Additionally, Prof Yair Bar-Haim detailed the creation of the National Center for PTSD at TAU, initially planned for late 2025. The unprecedented scale of the October 7 attack necessitated an accelerated timeline, with the center treating its first patients on January 1. In addition to providing treatment for individuals affected by PTSD, researchers at TAU are actively working on preventative measures for soldiers. They employ software designed to train soldiers in directing their attention to potential threats, a method proven to substantially decrease the risk of developing PTSD. Following the events of October 7, a team led by Prof. Bar-Haim developed a dedicated app, which was subsequently distributed to the mobile phones of all soldiers in active combat units.  

Gender Dynamics in the Aftermath of October 7

Prof Daphna Hacker, an expert on women studies and member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, explored the gender aspect of the war. With Israel being the first and only country with mandatory military service for both men and women, 36% of TAU students called up for reserve duty are women, many of whom are engaged in active combat.  
Notably, an all-female tank unit successfully repelled a Hamas attack on a kibbutz on October 7, fighting for an astounding 17 hours
    At the same time, many Israeli women and girls became victims of sexual violence on October 7. The shock over mass casualties initially prioritized victim identification and burial over forensic evidence collection, complicating international acknowledgment of the violence. To compound the issue, irresponsible domestic discourse about the scope of sexual violence has caused significant moral panic in Israel. Another serious gender issue is the struggle to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. The Red Cross has not been allowed to visit hostages, making it impossible to establish their health condition and to properly prioritize those who need to be released first.  
All hostages, irrespective of their gender, should be brought home.
  The final aspect Prof Hacker highlighted is the absence of women at the decision-making level, with all the crucial decisions on the war, ceasefire, hostage release and so on made by men.
  In Gaza, where at least 50% of women report domestic violence, the devastating humanitarian crisis is the outcome of men’s actions and women are overrepresented only on the victim side.
  Women are active in the struggle for peace – two Tel Aviv University professors established The Day after the War multidisciplinary academic action forum that calls on the Israeli government to declare that it has no intention of occupying Gaza and to join an international coalition that would force Hamas to surrender. All those who live on this tiny piece of land on both sides of the disputed borders are traumatized by nationalism, militarism, religious fanaticism, and sexism.  

Coping with Trauma: Captivity and Its Aftermath

Dr. Yael Lahav explored captivity trauma, emphasizing exposure to multiple stressors, including torture, sexual abuse, deprivation, and isolation. Homecoming for former hostages becomes a challenging transition, with difficulties in feeling safe and resuming normalcy amid destroyed homes and lost loved ones. The harsh realities faced by returning hostages contribute to long-term health issues, premature aging, and early mortality. Moreover, secondary traumatization affects the family and friends of hostages, manifesting as PTSD symptoms. Dr. Lahav underscored the need for comprehensive mental health support and societal understanding to facilitate the reintegration of former hostages into daily life.     Prof Karen Avraham, Dean of the TAU Faculty of Medicine; Prof Michael Kahana, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania; Prof Milette Shamir, TAU VP International; Prof Itzhak Fried, Professor-in-Residence, Neurosurgery, University of California Los Angeles  

Academic Collaborations and Concerns

Milette Shamir, in concluding discussions, expressed concern over the rising wave of academic boycotts, particularly in social sciences, law, and humanities. While acknowledging supportive gestures, such as the EU postponing grant application deadlines for Israeli researchers, she stressed the importance of countering academic boycotts. Members of the UPenn delegation expressed heartfelt support for their Israeli counterparts. They proposed ideas to expand research collaborations and study abroad opportunities for both American and Israeli students. Suggestions included summer programs, research internships, undergraduate scholarships, and joint projects, reflecting a commitment to strengthening academic ties amidst challenging times. In essence, the UPenn solidarity visit to TAU served not only as a gesture of support but also as a platform for interdisciplinary discussions on trauma, resilience, and the collaborative pursuit of knowledge.  
As both institutions navigate the complex aftermath of October 7, the shared commitment to academic collaboration stands as a testament to the enduring power of education and understanding in times of adversity.

New Technology Interprets Archaeological Findings from Biblical Times

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Researchers rely on the earth’s magnetic field to verify an event mentioned in the Old Testament.

A breakthrough achieved by researchers from four Israeli universities – Tel Aviv University, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar-Ilan University and Ariel University– will enable archaeologists to identify burnt materials discovered in excavations and estimate their firing temperatures. Applying their method to findings from ancient Gath (Tell es-Safi in central Israel), the researchers validated the Biblical account: “About this time Hazael King of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem” (2 Kings 12, 18). They explain that unlike previous methods, the new technique can determine whether a certain item (such as a mud brick) underwent a firing event even at relatively low temperatures, from 200°C and up. This information can be crucial for correctly interpreting the findings.

The multidisciplinary study was led by Dr. Yoav Vaknin from the Sonia & Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology, Entin Faculty of Humanities, at Tel Aviv University, and the Palaeomagnetic Laboratory at The Hebrew University. Other contributors included: Prof. Ron Shaar from the Institute of Earth Sciences at The Hebrew University, Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef and Prof. Oded Lipschits from the Sonia & Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, Prof. Aren Maeir from the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Adi Eliyahu Behar from the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology and the Department of Chemical Sciences at Ariel University. The paper has been published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

Prof. Lipschits: “Throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages the main building material in most parts of the Land of Israel was mud bricks. This cheap and readily available material was used to build walls in most buildings, sometimes on top of stone foundations. That’s why it’s so important to understand the technology used in making these bricks.”

Dr. Vaknin adds: “During the same era dwellers of other lands, such as Mesopotamia where stone was hard to come by, would fire mud bricks in kilns to increase their strength and durability. This technique is mentioned in the story of the Tower of Babel in the Book of Genesis: “They said one to another, Come, let us make bricks and fire them thoroughly. So they used brick for stone”(Genesis 11, 3). Most researchers, however, believe that this technology did not reach the Land of Israel until much later, with the Roman conquest. Until that time the inhabitants used sun-dried mud bricks. Thus, when bricks are found in an archaeological excavation, several questions must be asked: First, have the bricks been fired, and if so, were they fired in a kiln prior to construction or in situ, in a destructive conflagration event? Our method can provide conclusive answers.”

The new method relies on measuring the magnetic field recorded and ‘locked’ in the brick as it burned and cooled down. Dr. Vaknin: “The clay from which the bricks were made contains millions of ferromagnetic particles – minerals with magnetic properties that behave like so many tiny ‘compasses’ or magnets. In a sun-dried mud brick the orientation of these magnets is almost random, so that they cancel out one another. Therefore, the overall magnetic signal of the brick is weak and not uniform. Heating to 200°C or more, as happens in a fire, releases the magnetic signals of these magnetic particles and, statistically, they tend to align with the earth’s magnetic field at that specific time and place. When the brick cools down, these magnetic signals remain locked in their new position and the brick attains a strong and uniformly oriented magnetic field, which can be measured with a magnetometer. This is a clear indication that the brick has, in fact, been fired.

One of the studied burnt mudbricks (Photo credit: Dr. Yoav Vaknin)

In the second stage of the procedure, the researchers gradually ‘erase’ the brick’s magnetic field, using a process called thermal demagnetization. This involves heating the brick in a special oven in a palaeomagnetic laboratory that neutralizes the earth’s magnetic field. The heat releases the magnetic signals, which once again arrange themselves randomly, canceling each other out, and the total magnetic signal becomes weak and loses its orientation.

Dr. Vaknin: “We conduct the process gradually. At first, we heat the sample to a temperature of 100°C, which releases the signals of only a small percentage of the magnetic minerals. We then cool it down and measure the remaining magnetic signal. We then repeat the procedure at temperatures of 150°C, 200°C, and so on, proceeding in small steps, up to 700°C. In this way the brick’s magnetic field is gradually erased. The temperature at which the signal of each mineral is ‘unlocked’ is approximately the same as the temperature at which it was initially ‘locked’, and ultimately, the temperature at which the magnetic field is fully erased was reached during the original fire.”

The researchers tested the technique in the laboratory: they fired mud bricks under controlled conditions of temperature and magnetic field, measured each brick’s acquired magnetic field, then gradually erased it. They found that the bricks were completely demagnetized at the temperature at which they had been burned – proving that the method works.

Dr. Vaknin: “Our approach enables identifying burning which occurred at much lower temperatures than any other method. Most techniques used for identifying burnt bricks are based on actual changes in the minerals, which usually occur at temperatures higher than 500°C – when some minerals are converted into others.”

Dr. Eliyahu Behar: “One of the common methods for identifying mineralogical changes in clay (the main component of mud bricks) due to exposure to high temperatures is based on changes in the absorption of infrared radiation by the various minerals. In this study we used this method as an additional tool to verify the results of the magnetic method.” Dr. Vaknin: “Our method is much more sensitive than others because it targets changes in the intensity and orientation of the magnetic signal, which occur at much lower temperatures. We can begin to detect changes in the magnetic signal at temperatures as low as 100°C, and from 200°C and up the findings are conclusive.”

In addition, the method can determine the orientation in which the bricks cooled down. Dr. Vaknin: “When a brick is fired in a kiln before construction, it records the direction of the earth’s magnetic field at that specific time and place. In Israel this means north and downward. But when builders take bricks from a kiln and build a wall, they lay them in random orientations, thus randomizing the recorded signals. On the other hand, when a wall is burned in-situ, as might happen when it is destroyed by an enemy, the magnetic fields of all bricks are locked in the same orientation.”

After proving the method’s validity, the researchers applied it to a specific archaeological dispute: was a specific brick structure discovered at Tell es-Safi – identified as the Philistine city of Gath, home of Goliath – built of pre-fired bricks or burned on location? The prevalent hypothesis, based on the Old Testament, historical sources, and Carbon-14 dating attributes the destruction of the structure to the devastation of Gath by Hazael, King of Aram Damascus, around 830 BCE. However, a previous paper by researchers including Prof. Maeir, head of the Tell es-Safi excavations, proposed that the building had not burned down, but rather collapsed over decades, and that the fired bricks found in the structure had been fired in a kiln prior to construction. If this hypothesis were correct, this would be the earliest instance of brick-firing technology discovered in the Land of Israel.

To settle the dispute, the current research team applied the new method to samples from the wall at Tell es-Safi and the collapsed debris found beside it. The findings were conclusive: the magnetic fields of all bricks and collapsed debris displayed the same orientation – north and downwards. Dr. Vaknin: “Our findings signify that the bricks burned and cooled down in-situ, right where they were found, namely in a conflagration in the structure itself, which collapsed within a few hours. Had the bricks been fired in a kiln and then laid in the wall, their magnetic orientations would have been random. Moreover, had the structure collapsed over time, not in a single fire event, the collapsed debris would have displayed random magnetic orientations. We believe that the main reason for our colleagues’ mistaken interpretation was their inability to identify burning at temperatures below 500°C. Since heat rises, materials at the bottom of the building burned at relatively low temperatures, below 400°C, and consequently the former study did not identify them as burnt – leading to the conclusion that the building had not been destroyed by fire. At the same time, bricks in upper parts of the wall, where temperatures were much higher, underwent mineralogical changes and were therefore identified as burnt – leading the researchers to conclude that they had been fired in a kiln prior to construction. Our method allowed us to determine that all bricks in both the wall and debris had burned during the conflagration: those at the bottom burned at relatively low temperatures, and those that were found in higher layers or had fallen from the top –at temperatures higher than 600°C.”

Prof. Maeir: “Our findings are very important for deciphering the intensity of the fire and scope of destruction at Gath, the largest and most powerful city in the Land of Israel at the time, as well as understanding the building methods prevailing in that era. It’s important to review conclusions from previous studies, and sometimes even refute former interpretations, even if they came from your own school.” Prof. Ben-Yosef adds: “Beyond their historical and archaeological significance, ancient building methods also had substantial ecological implications. The brick firing technology requires vast quantities of combustive materials, and in ancient times this might have led to vast deforestation and even loss of tree species in the area. For example, certain species of trees and shrubs exploited by the ancient copper industry in the Timna Valley have not recovered to this day and the industry itself ultimately collapsed once it had used up its natural fuels. Our findings indicate that the brick firing technology was probably not practiced in the Land of Israel in the times of the Kings of Judah and Israel.”

Tel Aviv University Urgently Launches a National PTSD Clinic for Civilians and Soldiers

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Responding to the massive incidence of PTSD following the war.

Tel Aviv University is launching a National PTSD Clinic in response to urgent needs. The Clinic serves as the therapeutic arm of TAU’s National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience, which combines research, training, and intervention in the field of post-trauma and related mental health disorders. In the coming year, the Clinic is expected to treat large numbers of civilians and reserve soldiers suffering from PTSD as a result of the war or other causes. The Clinic will receive patients referred by the Ministry of Defense and the National Insurance Institute, as well as private citizens seeking treatment. Therapists are top PTSD clinicians, whose cumulative experience adds up to hundreds of years.

Officials at TAU stress that the construction of the Miriam and Moshe Shuster Building for the Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience, including a Treatment Clinic, cutting-edge laboratories and the Sam and Agi Moss Wing, commenced a year ago, with the intention of opening it in 2025. However, due to the war, TAU decided to make the necessary adaptations and open the Clinic immediately in specially allocated temporary premises. The goal is to enable an immediate therapeutic response to as many patients as possible, thereby bolstering Israel’s depleted mental health system which, even before the war, was unable to meet the population’s real needs. Civilians privately seeking therapy will pay a nominal fee. The generosity of many donors in Israel and worldwide, with special thanks to Peter and Elaine Smaller, has enabled the Clinic’s establishment.

Prof. Yair Bar-Haim, Head of the Center: “Cautious estimates speak of 30,000 new cases of PTSD and related pathologies resulting from the war. We have harnessed TAU’s academic and therapeutic resources to provide an immediate response to as many sufferers as possible.”

In the first stage, the Clinic will provide treatments with proven efficacy for adults. Reserve soldiers referred by the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense will also be treated. Later on, as the program for adults is consolidated, additional programs for children, teens, and families will be offered as well. The Clinic will be led by Dr. Ofir Levi, formerly Commander of the IDF’s Unit for PTSD, and currently teaching at TAU’s Bob Shapell School of Social Work. The National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience is headed by Prof. Yair Bar Haim of TAU’s School of Psychological Sciences.

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat: “Until Oct. 6th, our plan was to open the Clinic of our National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience about two years from now. However, the events of Oct. 7 convinced us that the Clinic must be launched as soon as possible. Unfortunately, PTSD has become a nationwide affliction in Israel, and we as a university are aware of the needs of Israeli society, especially now, at one of the most difficult times we have known as a country and as a people. We intend to bring relief and new hope to thousands of soldiers and civilians emotionally impacted by the massacre and the war. I am certain that the Clinic will expand its activities in the coming years and make an important contribution to the State of Israel – thanks in great part to our bighearted and committed donors, and especially Peter and Elaine Smaller.

Prof. Yair Bar-Haim, Head of the Center: “Right after Oct. 7, when information about the extent of the trauma began to accumulate, we realized there would be large numbers of PTSD sufferers who require long-term professional treatment. Estimates speak of 30,000 new cases of PTSD and related pathologies resulting from the current war. So, we decided to undertake this national mission, harnessing TAU’s academic resources and vast professional knowledge on treating PTSD to provide reliable treatment for large numbers of people. Israel’s best PTSD therapists responded to our call and joined the Clinic’s permanent staff. The Clinic is expected to be the leading facility of its kind in Israel, focusing on the treatment of emotional trauma and related morbidity. The therapeutic team will support sufferers from initial diagnosis to the successful completion of treatments offered at the Clinic.”

Dr. Ofir Levi, Head of the Clinic: “I served in the IDF for 25 years, including almost a decade as Commander of the Unit for PTSD – during and after the Second Lebanon War and the ensuing operations Cast Lead, Pillar of Defense, and Protective Edge. Based on my experience, I know that a great professional challenge awaits us at the new Clinic. Our mission is founded upon our will and ability to provide the best and most effective care to those who seek our help. To this end we have recruited therapists specializing in PTSD with many years of experience in treating various kinds of trauma and implementing diverse methods of therapy. Together with senior clinicians from TAU’s Schools of Psychological Sciences and Social Work, we have formulated a treatment policy adapted to the various stages of trauma, to enable a response to different populations.”

Planning for Postwar Israel

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TAU hosted a hackathon to tackle the urgent challenges which will persist “the day after” Iron Swords.

No one knows when Iron Swords will end, but it is clear that new ideas will be needed to deal with the damage caused to Israel and its citizens. Tel Aviv University students Amitai Mintzer and Nir Komem rose to the task. They conceived and implemented a hackathon, “HackTAU: The Day After,” together with Tel Aviv University’s Entrepreneurship Center. After months with no students on campus, about 230 arrived from 15 different academic institutions along with 70 academic and professional mentors to look for creative ways to solve the various crises facing Israel right now. The Big Idea  Komem and Mintzer have been close friends since serving in the army together. Komem is an undergraduate student at the Buchmann Faculty of Law and the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program as well as a Rothschild Program Ambassador; Mintzer is an MA student in Anthropology and is in the Adi Lautman Interdisciplinary Program for Outstanding Students. “After October 7th, everyone wanted to do something to help right then and there. We thought, someone needs to plan for what’s next,” said Mintzer.  
“As we see it, academia is the ideal venue for this task. The problems we’re facing as a society are huge and we need new ideas to solve them. Academia is in charge of creating new ideas and connecting people with ideas to each other.”
  Komem expanded: “As we see it, academia is the ideal venue for this task. The problems we’re facing as a society are huge and we need new ideas to solve them. Academia is in charge of creating fresh ideas and connecting people with ideas to each other. And as students, we have to remind ourselves that we are qualified to help. If we’re good enough to fight in Gaza, and we’re good enough to help as volunteers, then our generation is good enough to plan for the future.”   Nir Komem (left) and Amitai Mintzer present their idea on day one HackTAU. (Photo: Yael Tzur)   The first step was identifying the challenges that needed addressing, so the two contacted as many people from around the country as they could find to ask what problems were most pressing. Six main challenges arose: Housing and Community: Finding a solution for the hundreds of thousands of displaced citizens from the north and south of Israel, and the urgent need to restore the social ties in these communities. Education: Adapting educational institutions to the new needs of students and creating a safe space for children and youth. Agriculture: Leveraging the acute need to rehabilitate the agricultural sector in Israel as an opportunity to integrate innovative solutions in the industry. Mental health: Developing various programs addressing national trauma and engaging in mental health from a collective perspective. Jewish-Arab Relations: Creating a vision and plan for a sustainable Jewish-Arab partnership and peaceful co-existence on academic campuses. Humanities: Focusing on the moral and human crises developing during these times within the region and worldwide.   Komem and Mintzer’s next step was to recruit students to head up each challenge along with academic and professional mentors to help bring ideas to fruition. “It’s like we had six hackathons at once,” says Mintzer. Thinking Together  One of the exceptional features of the event was the large diversity of thinkers it brought together to innovate for Israel’s future. Students of all disciplines, communities, and backgrounds came from all over the country to form 50 teams. There was even a group of eighth graders who came to observe but in the end were welcomed to participate.  
I was blown away by this event—the number of students, the quality of the work, the ideas people brought, and the groundbreaking new ways of thinking.” 
  “We had here something truly singular,” said Agricultural Challenge student head Itai Rozitzki, who is getting his BA at TAU in Philosophy and Law. He had been on reserve duty for two months and chose to spend three of his rare days off-base at the hackathon. “In every disaster, those who can see the opportunity to improve the world can benefit in the long run. I was blown away by this event—the number of students, the quality of the work, the ideas people brought, and the groundbreaking new ways of thinking.” Many students already had ideas upon arriving, some with teams already in place, while others came with simply a will to help their country. They were matched up based on ideas and interests with the help of mentors. Komem and Mintzer made sure each challenge had both an academic advisor who could help direct the ideation process, as well as a professional advisor who knew how to put the ideas into action.   One team develops their solution by listening to each other’s thoughts. (Photo: Yael Tzur) Each challenge had two or more teams cooking up different ideas and working in different ways. For example, in the Jewish-Arab Relations Challenge, one group focused on the urgent creation of solidarity in this time of division while the other attempted a more long-term program that could continue during calmer times for years to come. Said Elinor Shechter, the Hebrew University student head of the Jewish-Arab Relations Challenge, “it’s not uncommon to be a Jewish or Arab student and not talk to each other for the whole year. We wanted to try to mitigate that separation.” Entrepreneurial Support    When Komem and Mintzer approached the TAU administration with their idea, they were connected with the University’s Entrepreneurship Center. It is considered one of the leading startup accelerators in Israel and has led to the establishment of 18 startups that have raised approximately $155 million. The Center hosts several hackathons a year, including one during the COVID-19 pandemic which culminated in a remote-exam solution that was picked up for commercialization.  
“The purpose of the Entrepreneurship Center is to encourage creative thinking and bring students new tools for implementing innovative ideas and projects. All these were reflected in the hackathon.”
  Said Founder and Managing Director Mr. Yair Sakov, “The purpose of the Entrepreneurship Center is to encourage creative thinking and give students new tools for implementing innovative ideas and projects. All these were reflected in the hackathon. On a personal note, I wanted to support this project because shortly after the war started, I volunteered for five weeks with the evacuees from southern Israel. The close interactions familiarized me with their challenges and needs intimately. “Strong communities like the kibbutzim are losing people who do not want to return to the Gaza border area. For those who want to return, it is not clear where they will go after their homes were destroyed. The residents of the south who were involved in activities to bring Arabs and Jews together completely lost trust in their neighbors who they helped and fostered friendships with for years.  These are exactly the challenges identified for the hackathon. They are core issues for the residents of the south and the State of Israel in general,” Sakov said.   Yair Sakov speak at the HackTAU final presentation. (Photo: Yael Tzur)   Another integral supporter of the event was Allon Ventures, founded by Dr. Ori Allon. Dr. Allon, who has founded and successfully sold multiple software-based businesses, strongly believes in the positive impact technology has on our world. He is thrilled to support the upcoming generation of innovators who are using their talents to address critical issues. Unique Solutions  At the end of three intensive days, students from each challenge got up in front of their peers and presented fully-formed projects complete with goals, expected difficulties, and resource needs. “We’re hoping these projects will continue beyond the hackathon, and we’ll be setting up a website for the purpose of connecting professionals in the field as well as possible supporters to the student project creators,” said Komem. Added Mintzer, “as a humanities student I feel that academia is where we grapple with tough questions, and where we learn and think about value and meaning. Many people are interested in what will happen after the hackathon, but for me what’s important is that we’re making an academic space where students can take control of their lives and the future of their country. Even though we are all different, we can work together to create the country we want to see.”   You can read about each project in Hebrew here.

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